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Most people think of pyramids when they plan a trip to Egypt; seeing King Tut's tomb is high on the list of attractions. But much of Egypt's history and the development of its rich culture has been affected by its topography. The land forms of the region still dictate where and how people live -- even as they did in Cleopatra's time. Check out the deserts and the delta on your trip to the land of the pharaohs.

The Nile River and Its Banks

Egypt's Nile is the world's longest river at more than 4,000 feet. It flows south to north, beginning in the mountains of Ethiopia and ending in the Nile delta before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the center of life in Egypt and has been since antiquity. Its flooding dictated the fertility of the riverbanks and the success of each year's crops. Along its banks there are views of farm life as it has been for millennium as well as glimpses of pyramids and ports of call at major cities such as Cairo and Luxor. One way to enjoy the Nile is by taking a cruise. The modern-day equivalent of Cleopatra's barge is a cruise ship with every modern convenience and scheduled stops for sightseeing. Another option is a cruise on a traditional felucca, the shallow-draft wooden boats with colorful cotton sails that look much as they have for centuries.

The Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula is a triangular piece of land extending between the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. The Sinai is actually part of Asia, not Africa, and is the only Asian section of Egypt. It is the sole land bridge from Africa to Eastern Asia. Mount Sinai is the site where Moses received the tablets of the Ten Commandments, according to biblical accounts. On Mount Sinai, the Monastery of Saint Catherine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (egypttourinfo.com) with an extraordinary library of ancient manuscripts. On the Red Sea, you will find legendary scuba diving in Taba, and Sharm el Sheikh on the "Red Sea Rivera" has luxury resorts and day trips to see nearby natural wonders.

The Nile Delta and Cairo

The Nile delta is a fertile triangle, 100 miles long and 155 miles wide, at the mouth of the Nile that splits the river in two. Cairo sits on the river just where it branches to form the Nile Delta. Cairo's museums are worth the time you spend to see them. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities has more than 120,000 extraordinary artifacts on display, a fraction of its vast collection. (See resources)The city itself is a great metropolis with plenty to do. Shop in the souk, visit the camel market and catch the sound and light show at night over the pyramids. You can see them from your hotel room. Giza is just a quick tour bus ride outside the city. (See resources) At Giza, see the pyramids of Khufu, also called Cheops, and Khefren and the Great Sphinx.

Egypt's Great Deserts

Egypt is a vast series of deserts that stretches out in all directions from the Nile. You can see the Sahara on camelback and visit one of its famed oases at Siwa, Fayoum, Bahriya, Farafra or Dakhla. The Government divides the desert areas into the Western Desert, which stretches from the Nile to Libya and the Mediterranean to Egypt's southern border; and the Eastern Desert, from the Nile to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and from the north to the Sudan in the south.

The Wadi -- the Valley of the Kings

A wadi is a valley, which can be parched in the dry season. The wadi on the West bank of the Nile that contains the Valley of the Kings is actually two valleys and, despite centuries of archaeological digs, it is still a largely undiscovered working site. The location for a necropolis seemed ideal to the ancient Egyptians because the tall cliffs of soft limestone could be carved out for burials and the view of the site across the Nile showed the setting sun entering the underworld each day. (See resource) Prominent tombs in the Valley of Kings include those of Amenhotep III, Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun, and the many tombs of the Ramesses dynasty. (See Resource) The Valley of Kings is across the Nile from the city of Luxor, a major tourist destination with an airport and hotels.(See resources)

About the Author

Benna Crawford has been a journalist and New York-based writer since 1997. Her work has appeared in USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, and in professional journals and trade publications. Crawford has a degree in theater, is a certified Prana Yoga instructor, and writes about fitness, performing and decorative arts, culture, sports, business and education .

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